Refuse loader



March 31,- 1959 .1. M. GWINN, JR v 2,879,906

REFUSE LOADER Filed Jan. 22. '1957 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 31, 1959 .1. mr ewmu, JR 2,379,906

' REFUSE LOADER Filed Jan. 22, 1957 7 Sheets-Sheet :5

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March 31, 1959 J. M. GWlNN, JR

REFUSE LOADER 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 22, 1957 a Z M 7 o .w 4 T E 4 m 1 a" 4 M F. I z I M Q. J H WWW m M a M j U 2 M l M A 4 H INVENTOR. 6 1 Mwz'zrrr, .77:

FIVE/ f J. M. GWINN, JR

March 31, 1959 REFUSE LOADER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 22, 1957 INVENTOR- Lfsep/Z 7f fax/(71x17? March 31, 195 9 J. wm JR 2,879,906

REFUSE. LOADER I 7 7 Sheets-sheet 7 Filed Jan. 22. 1957 ri INVENTOR.

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United States Patent REFUSE LOADER Joseph M. Gwinn, Jr., Dearborn, Mich., assiguor to Gar Wood Industries, Inc., a corporation of Michigan This invention relates generally to material handling apparatus and more particularly to a refuse loader for progressively loading refuse into a storage compartment and compressing it therein.

Refuse collectors or trucks of the familiar house to house pick-up variety are commonly provided with automatic loaders of various kinds. These generally include a tailgate structure having a loading hopper or trough, and an oscillating compressing mechanism for moving refuse from the trough and delivering it to a storage compartment on the truck. When loaders of this type are used no refuse can be loaded into the trough during the transfer and compressing operation because the loading and compressing mechanism must reverse and return to its starting position by passing through the hopper.

The present invention relates to refuse loaders of the type disclosed in Lee Patent No. 2,335,155 in which refuse is transferred from the hopper to the body by a panel which rotates through a complete circle of 360 degrees and normally rotates only in one direction so that refuse may be loaded behind the panel as soon as it starts moving through the hopper. This makes possible substantially continuous loading of the hopper.

One object of this invention is to provide a refuse loader of the above type which has a maximum size loading opening for a given size loading trough, to facilitate the supply of refuse to the loader.

Another object of this invention is to provide a refuse loader of the above type in which the ram panel for compressing refuse in the storage compartment is arranged for movement in a substantially horizontal direction so that lifting of the refuse by the ram panel is avoided.

A further object of this invention is to provide a refuse loader which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and operate, and eflicient in operation in handling a continuous supply of refuse.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary foreshortened elevational view of a refuse collector provided wth the loader of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the collector and loader assembly shown in Fig. 1, with some parts broken away and other parts shown in section for the purpose of clarity, andshowing one position of the refuse handling panels in the loader;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, illustrated similarly to Fig. 2, showing another position of the refuse handling panels;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view looking substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the loader of this invention and illustrating a portion of the panel control mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view looking substantially along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5;

2,879,906 Patented Mar. 31, 1959 ice Fig. 7 is an elevational view looking substantially along the line 7--7 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the control mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5',

Fig. 9 is a top view of the control structure illustrated in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen along the line 10-10 in Fig. 4;

Figs. 11 and 12 are plan views of the trigger mechanism. and sweep panel control valve assembly in the loader of this invention, illustrating changed positions of the trigger mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic side view of the ram panel and a link connecting the panel with the trigger mechanism illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, and showing changed positions of the panel in dotted lines;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view looking substantially along the line 1414 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a digrammatic view illustrating one position of the panel control cams and the followers associated therewith in the loader of this invention;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the positions of the panels corresponding to the cam positions illustrated in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrated similarly to Fig. 15 and showing another position of the control cams and the followers; and

Fig. 18 is a digrammatic view illustrating the positions of the panels corresponding to the cam positions illustrated in Fig. 17.

With reference to the drawing, the refuse loader of this invention, indicated generally at 20, is illustrated in Fig. 1 applied to the rear end of a truck 22, of well known type having a body 24 for enclosing a storage compartment 26. The truck 22 is used in the usual manner for making house to house pick-ups of garbage and other refuse.

- A packing and compacting of this refuse into the storage compartment 26 is accomplished with the loader 20 so that the number of trips required for dumping refuse from the truck 22 is reduced to a minimum.

The loader 20 includes a hollow tailgate structure 28 located at the rear end 32 of the body 24 which is open for receiving refuse from the loader 20. A torque tube 27 extends transversely across the upper end of the tailgate 28 and is pivotally connected at 30 to the body rear end 32. A pair of plates 29 are secured to opposite ends of the torque tube 27 and connected to hydraulic cylinder assemblies 31 on the body 24 so that on actuation of the assemblies 31, the tailgate 28 can be swung upwardly and rearwardly about the pivots 30 for opening the rear end of the bodyfor dumping refuse therefrom. A lift mechanism (not shown) is actuated to provide for a tilting of the body 24 to dump the refuse therefrom. In the loading'position of the loader 20 illus trated in Fig. 1, the front end 34 of the tailgate 28 is in a fluid tight relation with the rear end 32 of the body 24 to prevent leakage of refuse from the compartment 26.

The tailgate 28 has a trough or hopper portion 36 at its lower end which extends transversely of the body 24 and is generally semi-circular in cross section. A lip 38 on the front end of the trough portion 36 fits with in the rear end of the body 24 in the loading position of the tailgate 28 to facilitate a travel of refuse from the trough 36 onto the upwardly inclined rear end portion 40 of the floor of the compartment 26. Immediately above the trough 26 the tailgate 28 is provided with an opening 42 (Figs. 2 and 7) through which refuse is dumped into the trough 36 for transfer to the compartment 26.

The refuse handling panels A sweep or conveyor panel 44 extends longitudinally of the trough 36 and carries stub shafts 46 and 47 at its opposite ends which are supported in the end walls 28. The sweep panel 44 includes a concave, plate member 50 provided adjacent its inner end with a first stiffener beam 52 and adjacent its outer or terminal end 54 with a second stiffcncr beam 56. The beams 52 and 56 extend longitudinally of the plate 50 and a plurality of spaced reinforcing ribs 58 extend transversely of the plate 50 for insuring a panel of the required strength. The stub shafts 46 and 47 are located at the center of curvature of the trough 36 and the plate 50 is of a length such that the outer end terminates adjacent the wall of the trough 36 so that on rotation, the panel 44 sweeps refuse from the trough 36.

At its ends the panel 44 includes a pair of shaft connection housings 45, only one of which appears in Fig. 4, arranged in an offset relation with the beam 52. Each 45 is provided with internal spline teeth 49 adapted to mesh with external spline teeth 51 on the corresponding shaft 46 or 47.

By virtue of this construction of the panel 44 with the beams 52 and 56, and particularly the beam 56 since it accomplishes the major part of the strengthening of the plate 50 against longitudinal bending, the requirement for a continuous supporting shaft at the inner end of the panel is avoided and only the stub shafts 46 and 47 are required. In other words, the beams 52 and 56 act to stiffen the plate 50 in a direction longitudinally thereof so that a continuous supporting shaft is avoided. As a result, a larger trough intake opening, defined by the distance indicated at a in Fig. 3 between the outer side of the trough 36 and the inner end of the plate 50, is provided. An enlargement of the opening equal to approximately the diameter of the shaft which is ordinarily required is achieved by virtue of the construction .of the panel 44 for support on the stub shafts 46 and 47.

Mounted above the sweep panel 44 is a ram panel 60 supported on stub shafts 62 carried in the end walls 48 of the tailgate 28. The panel 60 includes a front refuse engaging plate 64 having a curved upper portion 65 arranged in a closely spaced relation with a partition 67 which is carried by and extends between the tailgate end walls 48. The partition 67 extends upwardly and forwardly from the plate portion 65 to a position within the compartment 26 and then rearwardly and upwardly to a position engaging the torque tube 27. The ram panel 60 is movable back and forth about the shafts 62 between the downwardly and rearwardly inclined retracted position illustrated in Fig. 2 and the downwardly and forwardly inclined ram position illustrated in Fig. 3. During movement of the panel 60 from the retracted to the ram position, the plate 64 operates to compress and move refuse into the compartment 26.

The panel operating mechanism The panel control mechanism shown in the drawing is for purpose of illustration only, and is the subject matter of copending application Serial No. 635,487, filed January 22, 1957 and assigned to applicants assignee.

A drive assembly, indicated generally at 66 (Fig. 4), for the sweep panel 44 is carried in a housing 68 mounted on one of the end walls 48 for the tailgate 28. The drive assembly 66' includes a hydraulic motor 70 provided with a drive shaft 72 which carries a sprocket 74. A chain 76 trained about the sprocket 74 is also trained about a larger sprocket 78 carried on a shaft 80 which is provided also with a smaller sprocket 82. A chain 84 trained about the sprocket 82 is also trained about a larger sprocket 86 which is secured to the stub shaft 46 at one end of the sweep panel 44.

Thus, on operation of the hydraulic motor 70, the sweep panel 44 is rotatable in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 to sweep refuse from the trough 36 to a position in which the ram panel 60 can operate on the refuse to move it into the compartment 26.

A pair of hydraulic cylinder assemblies 88 are pivotally supported at their inner ends on pins 90 carried by the plates 29 on the tailgate 28 and are provided with outwardly extended piston rods 92 attached to corresponding upwardly extending cars 94 provided at the ends of the ram panel 60. On extension of the piston rods 92, which operate in unison, the panel 60 is rotated in a clockwise direction from the retracted position (Fig. 2) to the ram or compressing position illustrated in Fig. 3. Conversely, on retraction of the piston rods 92, the panel 60 is rotated in a reverse direction. The position of the panel 60 illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 which is between the compressing and retracted positions is termed a leak position and is due to the pressure of the compacted refuse on the ram panel 60 when in its compressing position. The pressure of refuse in the compartment 26 and the fact that the cylinder assemblies 88 usually leak somewhat combine to provide for movement of the panel 60 to the leak position when an attempt is made to maintain the ram panel 60 in the compressing position for a prolonged period when the compartment 26 is substantially full of compressed refuse.

Mounted on the downwardly and rearwardly extended portion of the partition 67, which blocks any upward travel of refuse in the tailgate 28, are a pair of control valves and 162 for the sweep and ram panels 44 and 60, respectively.

The valves 100 and 102 are preferably conected to a pair of corresponding pumps (not shown) associated with a fluid reservoir so that the available supply of fluid to one of the valves is not affected by the supply of fluid to the other valve. As a result, each of the panels 40 and 66 is operable entirely independently of the other panel. However, it is to be understood that a single pump may be associated with the valves 100 and 102 in a manner to achieve the same result so that the panel operating mechanism is not limited to use with only two pumps.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 11, the control valve 100 for the sweep panel 44 has three control positions corresponding to forward, hold and reverse movements of the sweep panel 44. In the forward position of the control valve 100, fluid under pressure is supplied to the motor 70 to provide for clockwise rotation of the panel 44 as viewed in Fig. 2. On movement of the valve 100 to a hold position, the valve acts to lock fluid in the motor 70 so that the sweep panel 44 is held in a stationary position. On movement of the valve 100 to the final reverse position, the fluid is supplied to the motor 70 such that the panel 44 is moved in a reverse direction, namely, counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2.

The valve 102 is likewise provided with three control positions corresponding to retract, hold and ram" movements of the panel 60. In the retract position of the valve 102, fluid is supplied to the cylinder assemblies 88 to retract the piston rods 92 and move the panel 60 in a counterclockwise direction. On movement to the hold position, the valve 102 acts to lock fluid in the hydraulic cylinder assemblies so that the panel 60 is maintained in a predetermined position. On movement of the valve 102 to the ram position, the piston rods 92 are extended and the panel 60 is moved in a compressing direction, namely, forwardly of the body 24.

Fixed on the stub shaft 47 on the side of the tailgate 28 opposite the housing 68 are a pair of control cams 104 and 106 (Fig. 5) corresponding to the control valves 100 and 102, respectively. A pair of pins 101 lock the cams 104 and 106 together on opposite sides of a spacer plate 105.

As best appears in Figs. 15 and 17, the cam v104 which actuates the sweep panel control valve 100 has .a first large lobe 108 which constitutes almost the entire cam. A second smaller lobe 110 is separated from the lobe 108 on one side by a first small notch 112 and on the other side by a larger notch 114, with the notches 112 and 114 being of equal depth.

The cam 106 which actuates the ram panel control valve 102 is larger than the cam 104 and has a first large lobe 115 extended over substantially half the peripheral length of the cam 106. A second smaller diameter lobe 116 has a long portion 117 and a shorter portion 119 separated by a notch 121. The reasons for these specific cam shapes will become apparent from the hereinafter described operation of the loader 20.

A cam follower 118 cooperates with the cam 104 and a linkage 120 to control the position of the valve 100 in response to the position of the follower 118 on the cam 104. A similar follower 122 on the cam 106 cooperates with a linkage 124 connected to the control valve 102.

A pair of springs 170 incorporated in the linkages 120 and 124 normally maintain the followers 118 and 122 against their respective cams 104 and 106.

The followers 118 and 122 and a pair of manual control handles 126 and 128 corresponding thereto are carried on a plate 130 (Figs. 6, 8 and 9) secured to the adjacent end wall 48 of the tailgate 28. The handle 128 is secured to a first sleeve 132 carried on a bolt 134 projected outwardly from the plate 130. The handle 126 is similarly secured to a sleeve 136 arranged on the bolt 134 outwardly of the sleeve 132. An arm 138 secured to the sleeve 132 carries a pin 140 received in a slot 142 in one end of a lever 144 which is pivoted intermediate itsends on a bolt or pivot 146 carried by the plate 130. The opposite end of the lever 144 is connected to the linkage 124.

A triangular plate 148 carries a cam follower 122 at one of its corners, is pivotally supported on the pin 146 at a second corner and is releasably locked to the lever 144 by a locking unit 150 at its third corner. The unit 150 includes a pin 152 slidably supported in a housing 154 mounted on the triangular plate 148. A spring pressed ball 156 in the housing 154 is movable into an annular groove 155 in the pin to releasably lock the pin in a position projecting into an opening 158 in the lever 144 so that the plate and lever are locked together. The pin 152 is pulled out of the opening 158 against the action of the spring pressed ball 156 to unlock the plate and lever.

As a result, when the pin 152 is retracted from its position extended into the lever 144, the handle 128 is movable downwardly to in turn move the linkage 124 downwardly without moving the cam follower 122. The valve 102 is thus subject to manual actuation to control the ram panel 60. Separation of the plate 48 and the lever is required since without such separation the 101- lower 122 may prevent downward movement of the linkage 124, depending on the position of the cam 106.

The sleeve 136 for the handle 126 is similarly secured to' one end of an arm 160, the oppoiste end of which is secured to the linkage 120. A triangular plate 162 carries the follower 118 at one corner, is pivotally supported on the bolt 134 at a second corner and carries a locking unit 164 at its third corner for releasably locking the arm 160 and the plate 162 together. As a result, the handle 126 maylikewise be moved to in turn actuate the linkage 120 withoutinterference from the follower 118 engaging the cam 104.

Operation and that the ram panel 60 is in either of the positions shown in Fig. 3 depending on the extent to which refuse has been compressed in the compartment 26. As will normal rest positions of the panels. To initiate panel operation, the operator manually moves the handle 126 down to lift the follower 118 out of the cam notch 114, which is of a depth such that when the follower 118 is in the notch 114 the valve is in a hold position. The follower 118 is lifted to a position (Fig. 15) corresponding to the forward position of the control valve 100. The motor 170 is then supplied with fluid under pressure so that the motor operates to rotate the panel 44 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. Since the cams 104 and 106 are secured to the panel 44 for concurrent rotation therewith, the cams rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 15 and 17 so that the follower 118 is quickly positioned opposite the large lobe 108. The handle 126 is then released so that the follower 118 rides on the lobe 108 which is of a size to maintain the valve 100 in the forward" position.

Since the cam 106 rotates concurrently with the sweep panel 44, as soon as the sweep panel 44 begins to rotate,

the cam 106 rotates to lift the follower 122 oif the portion 119 of the lobe 116, in which positionthe valve 102 is in the hold position, onto the large lobe which moves the valve 102 to the retract position.

It is seen, therefore, that the panel 44 rotates in a sweeping direction relative to the trough 36 concurrently with a movement of the ram panel 60 in a retracting direction, with the rate of movement of the panels providing for a continuous location of the panel 44 behind the panel 60 to avoid any unnecessary contact of the panels.

On movement of the follower 122 off the lobe 115 onto the portion 117 of the lobe 116, to move the ram panel control valve 102 back to a hold position, the ram panel 60 has been moved to a fully retracted position'as sweep panel 44 has operated to sweep the refuse from the trough 36 to a supported position on the panel 44, which is in a substantially horizontal position. This position of the sweep panel 44, hereinafter termed a floor position, is illustrated in Fig. 3 in solid lines with the free end of the panel 44 at the level of the lip 38 which rests on the portion 40 of the compartment floor. A pair of conventional one-way latches (not shown) are mounted in the tailgate end walls 48 for preventing reverse rotation of the sweep panel 44 from the floor position. The latches are readily released manually from outside the tailgate 28 in the event reverse rotation of the panel 44 is required.

Concurrently with movement of the follower 118 into the notch 112, to move the control valve 100 to the hold position so that rotation of the cams 104 and 106 is discontinued, the follower 122 moves into the notch 121 to in turn move the ram panel control valve 102 to the ram position. Since rotation of the cams 104 and 106 has been discontinued, the valve 102 remains in the ram position until movement of the compressing panel 60 in the ram direction has been completed.

It can thus be seen that until rotation of the sweep panel 44 is interrupted, by movement of the follower 118 into the notch 112, rotation of the panel 44 actuates all of the panel control mechanism. In other Words, since the control valves for the panels 44 and 60 are controlled by the cams 104 and 106, which are in turn rigidly mounted on the shaft for the sweep panel 44, the entire control mechanism is under the control of the sweep panel 44 which is now in a stationary position. V A trigger mechanism, indicated generally at 179, associated with the sweep panel control valve 100 and the ram ,ltereinafter more clearly appear, such positions are the 3;; panel 60, provides for movement of the sweep panel 44 to the latch position shown in Fig. 16 awaiting further manual initiation of a charging cycle. An upright car 180 provided intermediate the ends of the ram panel 60 actuates the trigger mechanism 179. The car 180 is attached by means of a lost motion connection 182 to one end of a link 184, the opposite end of which is connected by means of a universal joint 185 to one end of a C- shaped arm 186 (Figs. 11 and 14).

The opposite end of the arm 186 is supported on a pivot pin 188 projected upwardly from a mounting plate 189 secured to the partition 67 at a position adjacent the valve 100. An extension 190 on a control spool 191 for the valve 100 carries a follower 192 for an irregularly shaped cam 194 which is also supported at one of its ends on the pivot 188. A spring 196 connected to the partition 67 is secured to the cam 194 and normally maintains the cam in an engaged position with an upwardly extending projection or stop 198 on the arm 186.

When the ram panel 60 has nearly completed its movement in a compressed direction, the ear 180 operates through the lost motion connection 182 and the link 184 to move the arm 186 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 11. The stop 198 provides for concurrent rotation of the cam 194 which engages the follower 192 to move the spool 191 in a direction toward the forward position of the valve 100. The spool is moved sufliciently to leak enough fluid to the motor 70 to provide for a resumption of the rotation of the cam 104 providing for lifting of the cam follower 118 out of the notch 112 onto the lobe 110.

In this position of the follower 118, the valve 100 is in a forward position so that rotation of the ram panel 44 is continued until the follower 118 falls into the notch 114. At such time, the panel 44 has been rotated to its latch position (Fig. 16) behind and in the path of the ram panel 60. During movement of the follower 118 between the notches 112 and 114 the cam 106 moves the follower 122 onto the portion 119 of the lobe 116 so that the valve 102 is returned to a hold position. The panel .60 is thus stopped in a forward position from which it is moved on initiation of the next charging cycle.

In its latch position, the panel 44 positively prevents rearward movement of the panel 60, in response to the pressure thereon of the refuse in the compartment 26 past a position in which the panel 60 acts to close the rear end of the compartment 26. The limited movement illustrated for the panel 60 in response to this refuse pressure is permitted by the leakage of fluid at the cylinder assemblies 88.

It is seen, therefore, that the sweep panel 44 controls automatic operation of the loader until the ram panel movement in a compressing direction is nearly completed at which time the ram panel 60 actuates the trigger mechanism 179 to provide for further movement of the sweep panel 44.

During movement of the ram panel in the retract direction, the panel operates through the link 184 to reset the trigger mechanism 179. During re-setting, the follower 192 clears the cam 194 since at such time the valve 100 is in its forward position.

It can thus be seen that during normal operation of the loader 29, a loading cycle is determined by a complete revolution of the cams 104 and 106. In the event any refuse becomes jammed in the tailgate 28 so that the loader will not operate properly, the handles 126 and 128 are operated to selectively rotate the panels 44 and 60 to positions in which the refuse causing the jamming can be removed or rearranged. By virtue of the fixed spaced relation of the followers 118 and 122 and the rigid connections of the cams 104 and 106, the panels 44 and 60 do not have to be returned to their start positions illustratetl in Figs. 3 and 16 prior to resuming automatic operation of the loader 20. It is only necessary to initiate automatic operation to provide for a re-setting of the panels at their start positions.

From the above description, it is seen that this in 7 20 which is operable to provide for a continuous loading of the storage compartment 26 without requiring any waiting periods. By virtue of the particular formation of the sweep panel 44, a maximum working opening is provided between the outer edge of the trough 36 and the sweep panel 44 through which refuse can be loaded. Also, as a result of the particular relative location of the ram and sweep panels, the ram panel is operable in response to substantially horizontal movement of the working end thereof to move the refuse on the sweep panel 44 into the compartment 26. As a result, no lifting of the refuse by the panel 60 is required, which, of course, eliminates a substantial portion of the load which would normally be imposed on the ram panel.

By virtue of the substantially horizontal direction of the compressing forces exerted on the refuse by the panel 60 the compartment 26 is filled clear to its front end. In other words, while the final compressing forces are inclined slightly upwardly, as a result of the downward and forward inclination of the panel 60, this inclination is not great enough to cause jamming of the refuse against the top wall of the compartment 26 with the resultant void at the forward end of the compartment. So long as the vertical component of the compressing force is less than the weight of the refuse being charged into the compartment no lifting is achieved. As a result, a pushing rather than a piling of the refuse is accomplished to negative the likelihood of jamming of refuse against the top of the compartment.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes can be made therein which are within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refuse collector which includes a storage compartment having an opening in one side for receiving refuse and a refuse receiving trough having one side edge positioned adjacent said one side of said compartment adjacent the lower end of said opening; apparatus for transferring refuse from the trough to the compartment comprising a sweep panel mounted for rotation about an axis extended longitudinally of said trough, means for rotating said sweep panel in one direction through a complete revolution from a position in which it extends substantially horizontally toward said opening; to move refuse in said trough to a position in substantial horizontal alignment with said opening, and a ram panel mounted above said sweep panel for movement of a portion of said ram panel across said sweep panel in the direction of said opening for moving refuse from said sweep panel into said compartment.

2. In a refuse collector which includes a storage compartment having an opening at one side thereof, and a refuse receiving trough positioned adjacent said compartment side at a position below said opening so that the top side of said trough is at the lower side of said opening; apparatus for transferring refuse from the trough to the compartment comprising, a sweep panel mounted for rotation about an axis extended longitudinally of said trough at the upper portion thereof, means operable to rotate said sweep panel in one direction through a complete revolution from a position in which it extends substantially horizontally toward said opening; to move refuse loaded into said trough to a position supported on said sweep panel and in substantial horizontal alignment with said opening, a ram panel mounted above said sweep panel and having the lower end thereof in horizontal alignment with a point adjacent the lower end of said compartment opening, and means for moving said ram panel in the direction of said opening so that a portion thereof is moved across said sweep panel in the direction of said opening for moving refuse off said sweep panel into said compartment through said opening.

3. In a refuse collector having a storage compartment for receiving a number of, charges of refuse, a stationary refuse receiving trough positioned adjacent said compartment and having a capacity for a single charge; apparatus for transferring refuse from the trough to the compartment comprising a pair of movable refuse handling members, one of which is arranged for full circle rotation through said trough from a position in which it extends substantially horizontally toward said opening for moving the refuse therein to a supported p sition from which the refuse is movable substantially horizontally into said compartment and the other of which is movable such that a portion thereof is moved substantially horizontally directly across said one member for moving refuse therefrom into said compartment while said one member is in said position.

4. In a refuse collector which includes a storage compartment for refuse, and a refuse receiving trough provided with a curved bottom having a center of curvature and mounted with one side edge adjacent one side of said compartment; apparatus for transferring refuse from said trough to the compartment comprising a generally rectangular panel member having axially aligned stub shafts extendeed outwardly from opposite ends thereof, the axis of said stub shafts being positioned away from said panel and adjacent to one edge thereof; and means mounting said shafts substantially at said center of curvature of said trough for rotation in a direction to provide for sweeping of refuse from said trough toward said storage compartment, with the space between said one panel edge and the outer side edge of said trough constituting a loading opening for said trough when the panel member is in a position in which the opposite edge thereof is adjacent said compartment, the size of said loading opening being increased by virtue of the location of said stub shafts.

5. In a refuse collector which includes a storage compartment for refuse and a trough into which refuse is loaded for transfer to said compartment; apparatus for transferring refuse from said trough to said compartment comprising a generally rectangular panel member, oppositely directed aligned stub shaft means carried by opposite sides of said panel for assembly with said trough at positions midway between transversely opposite sides thereof so that in one position of said panel member refuse can be loaded into said trough through the space between one edge of said panel and one of said trough sides, spaced stiffener ribs secured to and extended transversely of said panel, and a hollow reinforcing beam secured to and extended longitudinally of said panel adjacent the opposite edge thereof and connected to said stiffener ribs.

6. In a refuse collector which includes a storage compartment for receiving refuse and a refuse receiving trough positioned adjacent one side of said compartment; apparatus for transferring refuse from the trough to the compartment comprising a sweep panel mounted for rotation about an axis extended longitudinally of said trough, means for rotating said sweep panel in one direction through a complete revolution from a position in which it extends substantially horizontally toward said compartment side to move refuse in said trough to a position supported on said sweep panel, a ram panel mounted above said sweep panel for back and forth rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said sweep panel and means for rotating said ram panel in opposite directions between first and second positions on opposite sides of a vertical plane through the axis of rotation thereof, said ram panel in said first position having the terminal end thereof adjacent the inner end of said sweep panel so that on rotation of said ram panel in one thereof is moved toward said compartment to move the refuse on said sweep panel into said compartment.

7. In a refuse collector which includes a storage contpartment for receiving refuse and a refuse receiving trough positioned adjacent an opening in one side of said compartment; apparatus for transferring refuse from the trough to the compartment through said opening comprising refuse moving means extended into said trough androtatable through a complete revolution from a position in which it extends substantially horizontally toward said opening for moving refuse therein to a position substantially in horizontal alignment with the opening in said compartment, a ram panel rotatably mounted on said collector above said refuse moving means for movement in a predetermined timed relation with said refuse moving means, said ram panel being arranged so that a lower end portion thereof is movable in a substantially horizontal path across said refuse moving means to move refuse sub stantially horizontally therefrom into said compartment when said refuse moving means is in said position.

8. In a refuse collector having a storage compartment provided with a feeding opening in one side and adapted to receive a number of charges of refuse, a stationary receiving trough into which refuse is adapted to be dumped prior to being transferred to the storage compartment, means supporting said trough at a position adjacent said compartment side and below said opening, said trough having a capacity for a single charge of refuse, a sweep panel mounted for full circle rotation through said trough from a position in which it extends substantially horizontally toward said opening so that upon each charging operation all of the refuse in the bottom of the trough is swept from the surface of the latter into a relatively ele vated position opposite said opening, in which elevated position said charge of refuse is temporarily supported on the surface of said sweep panel, and a ram panel located above the trough and mounted for oscillation about an axis adjacent its upper edge between a pair of positions to move the refuse on said sweep panel through said opening and into said storage compartment, said axis being parallel to and above the axis of rotation of said sweep panel, said ram panel in one of said pair of posi tions being inclined downwardly from said axis of oscillation in a direction away from said compartment and in the other one of said pair of positions being inclined downwardly from said axis of oscillation in a direction toward said compartment.

9. In a refuse collector having a storage compartment provided with a feeding opening and adapted to receive a number of charges of refuse, a stationary refuse receiv ing trough positioned adjacent said compartment and having a capacity for a single charge; apparatus for transferring refuse from the trough to the compartment comprising a sweep panel which is arranged for full circle rotation through said trough from a position in which it extends substantially horizontally toward said opening for moving the refuse therein to a supported position from which the refuse is movable substantially horizontally through said feeding opening into said compartment and a ram panel which is movable across said sweep panel for moving refuse therefrom into said compartment to a retain ing position preventing travel of refuse from said compartment through said feeding opening, said sweep panel being movable to a latch position in the path of reverse movement of said ram panel for preventing movement thereof from said retaining position.

10. In a refuse collector which includes a storage compartment having an opening in one side thereof and a refuse receiving trough positioned adjacent said side of said compartment at a location below said opening; apparatus for transferring refuse from the trough to the compartment comprising a first means mounted for full circle rotation from a position in which it extends sub direction toward said second Position, said terminal end 15 stantially horizontally toward said opening through said trough for moving refuse upwardly therein to a stationary position adjacent to and in horizontal alignment with said opening, and second means for moving refuse horizontally from said position into said Compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,155 Lee Nov. 23, 1943 

